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In a split 4-3 vote, the council approved the city's request to make about 600 feet of beach in front of the $8 million family park a no-driving zone -- over concerns about what the decision means for other sections of beach.

"We've lost children on our beach because of our cars, and I can't think of anything we could do that would be more important to that generation than removing cars from this 600 feet of beach -- just to protect our children and to allow them the opportunity to frolic and play," said Councilwoman Pat Northey. "If we don't do this, we're driving cars through a playground. Who does that?"

Northey joined council members Doug Daniels, Pat Patterson and Joyce Cusack in voting to approve the request. Opposed were Jason Davis, Josh Wagner and Deb Denys, who drew applause from several beach-driving advocates who criticized the proposal.

"Most of the people that live in this area, in the whole county, like to drive the beach," said Don Kane of Daytona Beach. "And this appears to me to be the perception that Ormond Beach is trying to privatize the beach for their own use."

"This is one of the worst situations that we have to fight -- the infringements on the rights of the public on the beach," said Richard Kane (no relation to Don Kane), president of the local beach advocacy group Sons of Beaches.

"I don't think you're hearing or appreciating the value of this beach or the number of people who are concerned about keeping beach driving," he told the council -- calling the practice "a 100-year, God-given amenity."

For many longtime Volusians, their strong passions about beach driving have increased along with the opposition's concerns about safety and Mother Nature. Volusia saw two toddlers killed by vehicles on the beach in 2010 (along with some other nonfatal accidents), sparking a series of new ordinances and shifts in policy.

The sharp difference in perspectives was apparent on the council, too.

"Nature's going to take our beach," Davis said, arguing to keep the cars on. "She's all-powerful. So why don't we enjoy it while we have it?"

"Let's give the beach to everybody, not just the cars," Patterson said.

"I don't want this to be the council that took cars off the beach," Denys said. "I can't do it."

"For me, it's almost a no-brainer," Cusack said. "Why would we put a park that kids are going to be running to and from, and have folk be able to drive past it? ... Once one of them are hit or killed, it's too late to say, 'Oh, I'm so sorry.'"

The Andy Romano zone will become the sixth traffic-free zone in Volusia. Of the 50 miles of coastline in Volusia, driving is allowed on about 17. Another 14 are controlled by the state or federal government.

The last significant closure of a stretch of beach was in 2000, when a mile-long area around the Ocean Walk and Main Street Pier in Daytona Beach became traffic-free.

Wagner, who tried but failed to attach a policy that would add new beach-driving zones when old ones are removed, predicted more requests will be coming. Daytona Beach Shores is working on a public beachfront parking lot.

"We're putting ourselves in a very tough position to say no in the future," Wagner said.

"I'm not so concerned about slippery slopes, myself," said Daniels, who made the motion to approve the change. "I think when you start thinking, 'I've approved this, I've got to do that,' what you're doing is abdicating your responsibility. We have a responsibility here to exercise judgment."

The council essentially approved the no-driving zone as a permanent special event permit -- something the council can revoke in the future.

County Manager Jim Dinneen said that the county will install some temporary barriers now and work with the city over the next 4 to 6 weeks on permanent barriers and signage. The city is paying some of those costs.

<p>DELAND -- Vehicles won't be allowed on the beach in front of Ormond Beach's new Andy Romano Beachfront Park, the Volusia County Council narrowly decided Thursday morning. </p><p>In a split 4-3 vote, the council approved the city's request to make about 600 feet of beach in front of the $8 million family park a no-driving zone -- over concerns about what the decision means for other sections of beach.</p><p>"We've lost children on our beach because of our cars, and I can't think of anything we could do that would be more important to that generation than removing cars from this 600 feet of beach -- just to protect our children and to allow them the opportunity to frolic and play," said Councilwoman Pat Northey. "If we don't do this, we're driving cars through a playground. Who does that?"</p><p>Northey joined council members Doug Daniels, Pat Patterson and Joyce Cusack in voting to approve the request. Opposed were Jason Davis, Josh Wagner and Deb Denys, who drew applause from several beach-driving advocates who criticized the proposal.</p><p>"Most of the people that live in this area, in the whole county, like to drive the beach," said Don Kane of Daytona Beach. "And this appears to me to be the perception that Ormond Beach is trying to privatize the beach for their own use."</p><p>"This is one of the worst situations that we have to fight -- the infringements on the rights of the public on the beach," said Richard Kane (no relation to Don Kane), president of the local beach advocacy group Sons of Beaches.</p><p>"I don't think you're hearing or appreciating the value of this beach or the number of people who are concerned about keeping beach driving," he told the council -- calling the practice "a 100-year, God-given amenity."</p><p>For many longtime Volusians, their strong passions about beach driving have increased along with the opposition's concerns about safety and Mother Nature. Volusia saw two toddlers killed by vehicles on the beach in 2010 (along with some other nonfatal accidents), sparking a series of new ordinances and shifts in policy.</p><p>The sharp difference in perspectives was apparent on the council, too.</p><p>"Nature's going to take our beach," Davis said, arguing to keep the cars on. "She's all-powerful. So why don't we enjoy it while we have it?"</p><p>"Let's give the beach to everybody, not just the cars," Patterson said.</p><p>"I don't want this to be the council that took cars off the beach," Denys said. "I can't do it."</p><p>"For me, it's almost a no-brainer," Cusack said. "Why would we put a park that kids are going to be running to and from, and have folk be able to drive past it? ... Once one of them are hit or killed, it's too late to say, 'Oh, I'm so sorry.'"</p><p>The Andy Romano zone will become the sixth traffic-free zone in Volusia. Of the 50 miles of coastline in Volusia, driving is allowed on about 17. Another 14 are controlled by the state or federal government.</p><p>The last significant closure of a stretch of beach was in 2000, when a mile-long area around the Ocean Walk and Main Street Pier in Daytona Beach became traffic-free.</p><p>Wagner, who tried but failed to attach a policy that would add new beach-driving zones when old ones are removed, predicted more requests will be coming. Daytona Beach Shores is working on a public beachfront parking lot.</p><p>"We're putting ourselves in a very tough position to say no in the future," Wagner said.</p><p>"I'm not so concerned about slippery slopes, myself," said Daniels, who made the motion to approve the change. "I think when you start thinking, 'I've approved this, I've got to do that,' what you're doing is abdicating your responsibility. We have a responsibility here to exercise judgment."</p><p>The council essentially approved the no-driving zone as a permanent special event permit -- something the council can revoke in the future. </p><p>County Manager Jim Dinneen said that the county will install some temporary barriers now and work with the city over the next 4 to 6 weeks on permanent barriers and signage. The city is paying some of those costs.</p>